Image source, Getty Images
- author, Joao da Silva
- role, Business reporter
Kaspersky said it had made the “sad and difficult decision” to withdraw as “our business opportunities in the country are no longer viable.”
Prior to this, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said last month that Moscow’s influence over the company posed significant risks to U.S. infrastructure and services.
Kaspersky, which has operated in the United States for 20 years, denies the allegations.
“Kaspersky Lab will gradually wind down its U.S. operations and reduce its U.S.-based workforce starting July 20, 2024,” the company said in a statement.
The company’s US website has already stopped selling its antivirus and cybersecurity tools, displaying the message “not available for purchase by US customers.”
The announcement comes after the sale and distribution of Kaspersky Lab products was banned in the United States.
Raimondo said the US was forced to act because of Russia’s “capability and intent to collect and weaponize Americans’ personal information.”
“Kaspersky Lab will generally be prevented from selling software in the United States or providing updates to software already in use, among other activities,” the Commerce Department said.
The ruling uses broad powers created by the Trump administration to ban or restrict U.S. companies from doing business with technology companies of “foreign adversaries” such as Russia and China.
The company will effectively ban the downloading of software updates, reselling or licensing its products from September 29th, and will restrict new business within 30 days of the announcement.
Distributors and resellers who violate the regulations will be fined by the Department of Commerce.
According to the Ministry of Commerce, the Moscow-based multinational company has offices in 31 countries around the world and serves more than 400 million users and 270,000 corporate clients in over 200 countries.
At the time, Kaspersky said it would pursue “all legal options available” to fight the ban and denied engaging in any activities that threatened U.S. national security.
